Flexible swabbing tool

ABSTRACT

A swabbing tool with a telescoping handle and a flexible tubular extension ending in a socket within which a variety of attachments can be inserted, to take swab samples of remote and distant surfaces, without someone having to actually climb up or go down to the surfaces, to determine whether a surface has been adequately cleaned. The clamp attachment has pivotally connected upper and lower members, which each have a jaw extending beyond a recess. There is a notch in the center of the jaws for holding swabs with narrow cylindrical handles. There are also attachments having a template with a hole of a known area. A swab on another handle must be used to take a sample within the hole of a surface which the template is held against. Extending from the rear of either kind of attachment is a cylindrical member, which fits inside the socket. Extending from the cylindrical member is a fixed peg, and a depressible peg which is biased outward by a spring in the cylindrical member, but which is pushed inward when the cylindrical member is inserted into the socket. The socket has a curved notch, within which the fixed peg of a cylindrical member fits. The outward bias of the depressible peg helps retain the fixed peg in the curved notch, and thereby helps keep the cylindrical member in the socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool for taking swab samples fromsurfaces to validate cleaning.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When doing cleaning validation in a pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic,medical, electronic or chemical industry, there are often remote anddistant surfaces from which samples should be taken. It is alsodesirable to be able to take surface samples of these remote and distantlocations without someone having to actually climb up or go down tothem. It is also desirable to be able to take samples of a known surfacearea so that the contamination on the entire surface in question may beaccurately quantified. It is furthermore desirable that any tool to meetthese needs be light weight, easy to use, and versatile. The presentinvention meets these criteria, with a telescoping handle having aflexible extension ending in a socket to which a variety of tools can beattached. A clamp attachment can hold a variety of sampling materialsand devices, and is configured to reduce contact with absorbent materialused for swab samples, and thereby contamination with previous materialsampled. Template attachments may also be used to swab within an area ofknown size.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,496, issued on Mar. 4, 1969, to Stacy C. Swanbergand Donald C. Bohlsen, discloses a contamination sampler, with anelongated handle and a foot across which an absorbent tape passesbetween two reels. The foot with the tape is pressed against a surfaceto be sampled for radioactive contamination. The instant invention isdistinguishable, in that absorbent material is held between jaws ratherthan between reels, there is a socket into which various samplingdevices can be removably inserted, and its handle can be folded up likea telescope.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,973, issued on Oct. 15, 1974, to Judd R. Wilkins andStacey M. Mills, discloses an apparatus for microbiological sampling,with a motor driven cart, on which a second motor is carried for movinga swabbing device across a surface. The instant invention isdistinguishable, in that it is hand held, and has a socket with severalattachments for swabbing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,067, issued on May 13, 1980, to Bosko Stamatovic,discloses a motorized work device with a flexible shaft, for providingan angularly displaceable work tool at a point remote from a powersource. The instant invention is readily distinguishable, as it is notmotorized.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,496, issued on Oct. 12, 1993, to Gary F. Platek,discloses a surface sampling tester, which exposes a surface to arinsing agent, and then collects the rinsing agent. The instantinvention is distinguishable, in that it does not require the use of arinsing agent to sample material on a surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,536, issued on May 17, 1994, to Deepak K. Pai andGene A. Maday, discloses a method and apparatus to evaluate theeffectiveness of cleaning systems for high density electronics, in whicha contaminant is placed between two glass plates, which are thensubjected to a cleaning process. While the instant invention might alsobe used to evaluate the effectiveness of a cleaning process, by swabbinga surface after it has been cleaned, it does not require thatcontaminants be placed between two surfaces before cleaning.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,748, issued on Dec. 20, 1994, to Paul J. Lioy andClifford P. Weisel, discloses a wipe template sampler, with a templatehaving an aperture which exposes a testing surface of a predeterminedarea, and a dust pick-up element to be used within that area. Theinstant invention is distinguishable, in that it has a socket at the endof a flexible arm extending from a telescoping handle, into whichvarious attachments can be inserted, including a clamp with jaws forholding absorbent material to collect samples.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,188, issued on Mar. 7, 1995, to Charles E. Baileyand Roy E. Bowling, discloses a guide for angled and curved drilling,including a curved guide tube, and a flexible shaft extending throughthe guide tool having a drill bit. While the instant invention has aflexible tubular portion, it is not designed for drilling.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,178, issued on Mar. 7, 1995, to Robert J. Rybarski,discloses an apparatus and method for determining that equipment isclean, by comparing the electrical conductivity of liquid used to rinseequipment, before and after the rinse. The instant invention does notrequire rinsing or measurements of electrical conductivity.

United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2,280,133, published Jan. 25,1995, discloses an abrasive instrument for sample collection, in which asample to be analyzed is removed by abrasion. The instant invention isdistinguishable, in that it does not require abrasion to take a sample,and it has a telescoping handle, joined to a flexible extension endingin a socket, into which a variety of attachments for sample collectioncan be inserted, including a clamp with jaws for holding absorbentmaterial.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a swabbing tool with a telescoping handle and aflexible tubular extension ending in a socket within which a variety ofattachments can be inserted, to take swab samples to determine whether asurface or an object has been adequately cleaned. The clamp attachmenthas pivotally connected upper and lower members, which each have a jawextending beyond a recess. There is a notch in the center of the jawsfor holding swabs with narrow cylindrical handles. There are alsoattachments having a template with a hole of a known area. Extendingfrom the rear of either kind of attachment is a cylindrical member,which fits inside the socket. Extending from the cylindrical member is afixed peg, and a depressible peg which is biased outward by a spring inthe cylindrical member, but which is pushed inward when the cylindricalmember is inserted into the socket. The socket has a curved notch,within which the fixed peg of a cylindrical member fits. The outwardbias of the depressible peg helps retain the fixed peg in the curvednotch, and thereby helps keep the cylindrical member in the socket.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a newand improved means of cleaning validation of remote and distantsurfaces, without someone having to actually climb up or go down to saidsurfaces.

It is another object of the invention to provide a socket andcylindrical insert which may be easily joined and separately, yetsecurely attached.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for holdingabsorbent material that reduces contamination from previous sampling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a means for takingswab samples within a part of a surface of known area.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, with its telescopingportion extended and its neck bent.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, with its telescopingportion retracted and its neck straight.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in an openposition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a closedposition, seen from the rear.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the socket at the end of the neck that holdsthe attachments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a closedposition, holding a cotton swab.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a semi-closedposition, holding a clump of absorbent material.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a semi-closedposition, holding a suction cup that is holding a round samplecollecting plate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the circular sample collectionattachment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the circular sample collectionattachment attached to the flexible swabbing tool.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rectangular sample collectionattachment attached to the flexible swabbing tool.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the circular sample collection attachmentattached to the flexible swabbing tool.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a swabbing tool with a telescoping handle and aflexible tubular extension ending in a socket within which a variety ofattachments can be inserted. The purpose of the invention is cleaningvalidation; i.e., to determine whether remote and distant surfaces havebeen adequately cleaned, without someone having to actually climb up orgo down to them.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the invention 10, showing it beingused to take a swab from near the corner of a ceiling. The inventionincludes several telescoping handle members 12, each of which has aclamping ring 14 at its top end, which can be turned clockwise to fixthe member above in a certain position, or turned counterclockwise torelease it from a position. A bottom seal 16 keeps out dirt, moistureand other contaminants from the interior of the handle members. Aflexible tubular portion 18 can be manually bent into a desiredposition, and will tend to retain that position until it is bent again.At the opposite end of the flexible tubular portion from where it isattached to the highest and smallest telescoping handle member is asocket 20, into which a variety of attachments can be inserted,including clamping attachment 22, which is holding a clump of absorbentmaterial 24, such as cotton, to swab the surface of the ceiling.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention 10, with its telescopinghandle members 12 fully extended, its neck 18 bent, and its socket 20empty of any attachment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention,with its telescoping portion retracted, and its neck straight, showinghow each handle member nests inside the adjacent handle member nearerthe bottom.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment 22 in a closedposition. The clamp attachment has an upper member 26 and a lower member28. An upper jaw 30 extends beyond a recess 31 in the upper member. Alower jaw 32 extends beyond a recess 33 in the lower member. The narrowcontact surfaces of the jaws and the recesses 31 and 33 extendingparallel the length of the narrow contact surfaces of jaws 30 and 32help minimize contact with the absorbent material being used to collectswab samples, and thus minimize contamination of the sample withmaterial left on the clamp attachment from previous swabs. There is anotch 34 in the center of each jaw perpendicular to each recess forholding swabs with narrow cylindrical handles, such as Q-TIPS® cut inhalf. This notch extends into the lower member 28 of the clampattachment 22, so that the distal end of the cylindrical handle of theswab fits into the notch, thus preventing lateral or vertical movementof the swab when using it to collect samples. There is a rear recess 36within which the rear of the upper member can fit when it is depressedto open the jaws. Extending from the rear of the lower member is acylindrical member 38, which fits inside the previously mentionedsocket. Extending from the cylindrical member is a fixed peg 40, and adepressible peg 42, which is biased outward by a spring (not shown) inthe cylindrical member, but which is pushed inward when the cylindricalmember is inserted into the socket. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of theclamp attachment in an open position, showing the spring 44, which isattached around the pivotal connection between the upper and lowermembers. The spring gives the clamp attachment a bias towards the closedposition. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in aclosed position, seen from the rear.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the socket 20 at the end of the neck 18 thatholds the attachments, showing the cavity 46 within which theaforementioned cylindrical members of the attachment fit. The socket hasa curved or J-shaped notch 48, within which the fixed peg of acylindrical member fits. The outward bias of the depressible peg helpsretain the fixed peg in the curved notch, and thereby helps keep thecylindrical member in the socket. The neck has a spiral band 50, betweenthe coils of which is a groove 52, so that the neck can be manuallybent, but will tend to retain the position into which it has last beenbent. The neck may be covered with a flexible plastic cover (not shownin the drawings) to keep dust, moisture and contamination out of itsgroove.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a closedposition, holding a polyester swab 54 in notch 34. It can be seen thatthe notch enables such a swab to be held firmly in the clamp attachmentby its narrow cylindrical handle.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a semi-closedposition, holding a polyester swab 24. It can be seen how the narrowcontact surfaces of the jaws 30 and 32 and the recesses 31 and 33 helpminimize contact with the absorbent material being used to collect swabsamples, and thus minimize contamination of the sample with materialleft on the clamp attachment from previous swabs.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment in a semi-closedposition, holding a suction cup 56 that is holding a round samplecollecting plate 58. The sample collecting plate has a layer of amicrobiological medium 59, shown partially cut away, on whichmicroorganisms taken in the samples collected can be cultured. Both thenotch 34 and the recesses 31 and 33 make it easier for the jaws 30 and32 to hold the handle of the suction cup.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the circular sample collectionattachment 60, as seen from its rear, having a circular template 62 withhole 64 of a known area. A swab on another handle must be used to take asample within the hole of a surface which the template is held against.As the hole has a fixed area, the contamination for the entire surfacecan be extrapolated from that in the hole. The circular samplecollection attachment also has a cylindrical member 66 with a fixed peg68 and a depressible peg 70, so that it can be retained within theaforementioned socket. The cylindrical member 66 is attached to thecenter of an U-shaped member 72 which is attached at its two ends topoles 76 attached to disks 74 attached to the circular template. FIG. 12is a perspective view of the circular sample collection attachment, asseen from its front, attached to the flexible swabbing tool, showing twobolt holes 78 and bolts 80 by which the circular template is attached tothe poles of the opposite side.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rectangular sample collectionattachment 82 attached to the flexible swabbing tool. It has arectangular template 84 with a rectangular hole 86 with a defined area,within which a sample of the surface that the template is held againstis taken, as with the circular sample collection attachment. It also hastwo bolt holes 88 with two bolts 90 by which the template is attached.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the circular sample collection attachment 60attached to the flexible swabbing tool, showing more clearly how thecircular template 62 is attached to the disks 74 attached to the poles76 attached to the U-shaped member attached to the cylindrical member 66with the fixed peg 68 that fits within the curved notch 48 of the socket20 attached to the flexible tubular extension 18.

Other kinds of swabs than those shown in the drawings may also be usedwith the clamp attachment, including cylindrical sponges, that may beretained in sealed plastic bags or glass bottles until they are used, toprevent contamination.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A swabbing tool comprising:a flexible tubular member havinga first end and a second end; a telescoping tubular handle attached tothe second end of said flexible tubular member; a cylindrical socketattached to the first end of said flexible tubular member, said sockethaving a J-shaped notch; a clamp attachment including an upper memberpivotally connected to a lower member, said upper member and said lowermember each including a front end defining a jaw having a contactsurface with a length and a relatively narrow width, said clampattachment further including spring means for biasing the front end ofthe upper member toward the front end of the lower member, said uppermember and said lower member each including a recess extending adjacentthe length of each jaw and a central notch along the width of each jawand extending perpendicular to the recess along said lower member; and acylindrical member extending from said lower member and insertable insaid socket, said cylindrical member having a closed planar end and acircumferential surface, said planar end including a depressible peg andsaid circumferential surface includes a fixed ped; whereby, uponinsertion of the cylindrical member into the socket, the fixed pegengages the J-shaped notch and the depressible ped is pushed inward tosecurely retain the clamp attachment.
 2. A swabbing tool according toclaim 1, further including a swab attachment securably connectable tosaid clamp attachment, said swab attachment having a cylindrical handlefor retention within the central notch of the clamp attachment.
 3. Aswabbing tool according to claim 2, wherein said swab attachmentincludes a polyester swab.
 4. A swabbing tool according to claim 2,wherein said swab attachment includes a suction cup holding a samplecollecting plate.
 5. A swabbing tool according to claim 4, wherein saidsample plate includes a layer of culture medium for collectingmicroorganisms.